Peak District...what to do?

[glowinthebark]

Have just booked a few nights with DH and DDog (no DC) in a couple of weeks.

Any tips for nice walks and fabulous pub lunches please?

My research so far suggests Chatsworth is nice but would love to hear other recommendations.

Thanks in advance.

If you are gong to Chatsworth ( you need to book online I think) recommend parking in Baslow main car park and walking though the estate. It about a mile I should think, beautifully views all the way

I would really avoid the tourist attractions... Heights of Abraham was a complete waste of money imo, as were the caverns. Buy a book of walks...hire bikes if the dog can trot alongside. We love the Castleton area and Hathersage. Also Eyam village is interesting.

I'm claustrophobic so won't be going anywhere near any caves or caverns

Go to Bakewell and have a pudding from Ye Olde Bakewell Pudding Shop!

Uptick for the Packhorse Inn in Little Longstone. There is a nice little walk from there too.

Placemarking as also going soon! Enjoy OP! it’s beautiful there

Matlock Bath is ok if you want Skeggy minus the sea (can say that as an ex local ) but I'm not sure its the place to go if you want less touristy. If you go to Cromford, don't forget to visit the Arkwright Centre.

Haddon Hall or Hardwick Hall might be less busy (and a bit less expensive) than Chatsworth.

Ashover is a beautiful traditional village with good pubs and walking. Also less touristy than many well known Derbyshire village if you go to Eyam, The Bulls Head at Foolow is very good for food.

Bakewell and Matlock Bath are both lovely to have a mooch around

We parked in Castleton, had a walk up to Mam Tor then came back down and had some late lunch in one of the beer gardens, walked round the village etc.

There's lots of reseviors around the north area of the peaks such as ladybower, derwent, strines etc

Lathkill Dale is a lovely walk. There is also an outdoor swimming area at Youlgreave. Lovely walks also in Miller's dale. I would avoid the Monsal Trail as it is rammed with lycra clad men and people with buggies jumping out of their way. Manifold and Tissington trails are much less busy. Heights of Abraham is a waste of money, especially without children, and the current arrangements at the, normally excellent, Crich tramway museum would make it an essentially an expensive woodland walk. Lovely walks towards Edale, Mam Tor etc. Also the lido in Hathersage, though tickets go on sale for the following week at 6am and book up fast!

We’ve just returned. We did a 10 mile walk from Ladybower up to Derwent edge, enjoyed the views all along the top, had a picnic up there on Back Tor and came down by the Derwent Dam. Car park was fairly busy but really no crowds at all and only saw 5/6 other groups on the entire walk.

Also we did Chatsworth the next day. It’s one of my favourite places EVER. You have to book your house tour time online (it’s worth it) but they’ll let you in anytime. We spent the morning enjoying the gardens, then headed up to the farmshop to do our food shop and get a Bakewell pudding for lunch and went back down for the house. As they are limiting numbers, it didn’t feel busy at any point and we went straight in the house at our alloted time.

Also have done the Stannage Edge walk previously, Mam Tor and visited the caverns around Castleton. You will find plenty to do and it’s often overlooked compared to the Lakes!

And you must go to Bakewell and have REAL Bakewell pudding in Bakewell!

I definitely plan on smashing through a few Bakewells

The walk up to Carl Wark and Higger Tor - either Bronze or Iron Age hill forts. Start off from a pub, called The Fox House, near Hathersage, Padley Gorge and Toad’s Mouth Rock. If you look up from the pub, there is a big edge on the right, and Carl Wark and Higger Tor, two hill tops on your right.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Wark

Also, I’ve not been there for a long time, whereas we go to the Hathersage and Castleton area regularly; but Buxton used to be nice!

Wirksworth, Cromford and Bonsall. Beautiful area. Wirksworth is a gorgeous small market town with lovely independent cafes, restaurants and shops. Heritage centre, steam railway and private boutique cinema.

Should have been two hulk tops on the left!

Hill not hulk!

I think Haddon Hall is currently closed, sadly, as it’s an absolute gem.

Can highly recommend Heights of Abraham. Even if just for the bonkers cable car ride up there and back.